by Loni Taylor | Sep 15, 2023 | CKTZ News
A gender diversity workshop at Mansons Hall on Cortes last week was the first of its kind, but an organizer said the attendance was low. “I was a little surprised at how it wasn’t better attended than it was, because I would think that anybody, aside from interest in supporting gender diversity… and decolonization, anyone who wants to work with the public in any capacity probably should have some kind of training in gender diversity,” Facilitator Connie Quayle noted. The public event was funded by the Cortes Community Foundation through a microgrant and was free to attend. Quayle offered a similar, private workshop for Hollyhock employees earlier this year. Quayle, a BC certified teacher, said that those that attended the public workshop, participated in a lively discussion. “I love how sometimes the folks on this island can get so inspired and so curious and really do sink their teeth into topics when presented with them.” Quayle described one of the reasons gender diversity is more and more visible in Canada. “I’ve had my human rights as a trans person protected in BC now since 2016. A few years now,” Quayle said. “And so more of us are coming out because we have our human rights protected for the first time ever.” Quayle has reached out to the Cortes Community Health Association (CCHA) and the Cortes Island School to offer her educational services in gender diversity. The educator hopes more businesses, schools, non-profits and families, will connect with her when seeking out local resources on gender diversity. She also runs a training model where private businesses can fund the workshop...
by Bryan McKinnon | Sep 5, 2023 | CKTZ News, Uncategorized
As everyone who knows him knows, Rick gives so much to the Cortes Community, to the Reiki Community, and to his family and friends near and far. We’ve probably all seen him on stage at Love Fest, a lip sync, benefits for island organizations, a square dance, a gig, and more often than not, making people laugh. Rick hasn’t been feeling full strength lately, and last week learned that he needs a triple bypass. He will have the surgery in Victoria in mid to late September. Rick and Carina have been given a wonderful house near the hospital to start his recovery in, but they live on a very limited income and he will be unable to work again until into the new year. They will need funds to cover the back and forth travelling, medicine, living expenses and so much more. Our goal is to take the financial stress off of Rick so that he can relax fully into healing. Please help our dear friends in anyway you can. CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO RICK’S GOFUNDME PAGE Thank you, Rick’s family and...
by CKTZ | Sep 5, 2023 | CKTZ News
Max Thaysen, a local environmentalist, was recently elected to the Executive Committee of the North Island NDP Electoral District Association in July. This was a decision he made after spending the past ten years “hiding in my cabin fretting” about climate change. “I think our democracy muscles have atrophied … we’ve lost the skills to participate,” he said. “We’ve lost the drive to participate.” Thaysen was also appointed alternate regional director for Cortes Island Electoral Area B for the Strathcona Regional District in the last year. Regional Director Mark Vonesch appointed Thaysen after Vonesch won during last fall’s election through acclamation. Thaysen explaineded why Vonesch appointed him. “Mark has publicly said that he chose me because he likes my ability to speak to a diverse audience and hear different perspectives and find common ground with a… range of different people and also because of my understanding of and passion around climate change,” he said. Thaysen encourages passionate people to get involved, noting that there is a lot of room at the table. “The door, once I found the door was open. And once the door was open, there was empty seats everywhere. And when I said, hey, I could sit in one of those seats, people would be like, that’s awesome! We’re so glad you’re here!” Thaysen emphasized the important work of slowing climate change. “We need more people from the silent majority who believe mainstream science and scientists on these things to speak up,” he said. To hear more about Thaysen’s experience with regional politics, listen to the CKTZ News Update below: https://cortesradio.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CKTZ-News-Local-immerses-into-politics.mp3 ”...
by Louis Belcourt | Aug 31, 2023 | CKTZ News
Cortes Island’s Manson’s Hall will be host to a live production of “The Great Simplification” podcast this Monday evening for the first time. “The Great Simplification” is the #1 earth science podcast on Apple podcasts in Canada, the United States and other countries. The podcast has been producing episodes since early 2021. Guests are from a wide range of scientists, leaders, activists and thinkers and conversation topics span “human behavior, monetary/economic systems, energy, ecology, geopolitics and the environment.” Nate Hagens, the host of the podcast, is “trying to educate and inspire broader society to meet the future halfway on the situation of our economy, our environment, and our society in the next decade or so.” He holds a masters degree in finance from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in Natural Resources from the University of Vermont, and uses his learnings to try and “explore the systems science underpinning the human predicament.” Hagens will give an overview of his perspective on the global situation, and discuss with attendees “how special Cortes Island is” and the opportunity it has for change. “In the face of what society is facing, and what an amazing opportunity you have with a small sized island with a 1,000 or so population, to change the initial conditions of your future. You’re not like Los Angeles or Toronto in your constraints.” The show will be at 7 p.m. on Monday evening, Sept. 4. To hear more about Thaysen’s experience with regional politics, listen to the CKTZ News Update below: https://cortesradio.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CKTZ-NATE-HAGENS-INTERVIEW.mp3 ”...
by Loni Taylor | Aug 23, 2023 | CKTZ News
An avid student of Jamaican Island Reggae will be featured at the Gorge Hall for the first time this weekend. Gisto and the Grateful Living have a special connection to the genre, offering a spirit of music specific to island culture. Gisto, the band’s leader and songwriter, explains what makes his band’s delivery so appropriate for island culture. “We do the improvisational interludes where we’ll be just jamming out for 20 minutes on one song…that freedom in the music that anything can happen type of feeling where you’re you want to get people dancing,” he says. He describes the music’s effect on the audience as “a therapeutic moment where we explore the unknown…where the music inspires a freedom and potential.” Gisto used to have a band based out of Victoria, but he never made it Cortes Island until now. He sees the performance as a ticket to connect to new places, especially islands like Jamaica and Cortes. “Lucky that we have the music as our as our passport to travel and meet people,” Gisto says. Gisto connected with his band, the Grateful Living, during the pandemic. But his journey with reggae began back in Nelson, BC. No matter where his music “passport” takes him, he values the human connections he makes along the way. “Whether it’s a Jamaica, or a Cortes, or wherever there’s a unique energy when it comes to these islands that I’m really excited to be able to share,” he says. The Whaletown Community Club will welcome Gisto and The Grateful Living on Aug. 26 at the Gorge Hall. To hear more about how reggae lead...
by Loni Taylor | Aug 18, 2023 | CKTZ News
Locals Connie Brill and Colin Funk are spearheading a resurgence of improv theater on Cortes Island. They have begun hosting all-ages sessions on Friday evenings at Mansons Hall and they are calling it “Rewild Theatre.” The sessions began back in June as a test drive of timing and interest. The duo originally began offering improv on the island about 10 years ago, when they first moved to the island. Back then, they called the group the “Laughing Mussels.” Funk explains the original motivation for the local improv group, “The idea at that point was for us to be the front end of a fundraiser for some of the nonprofits. We thought that would be a really great way to help.” Brill and Funk have 40 years of experience running various theatrical programs in places like Banff. During the pandemic, the programming decreased and changed dramatically, with varying success. Now, the community members are focused on the new program, “Rewild Theatre.” “It has a big focus on environmental awareness and community health,” Funk said. “We liked the idea of ‘Rewild’ as the concept of rewilding spaces, both ourselves, community and the natural world.” “So we’re using the improv now as a way to attract people to connect to community, but also the bigger space that could emerge with Rewild Theatre,” Funk continued. Brill compares the sessions to that of a ballet or dance practice. “You do your warm ups, then you do your floor movement, and then you go into the performance. And that’s exactly what it is,” Brill said. “You have to warm up the muscles.” Funk adds, “The...
